Éirígí New Years Statement 2008
As a new year begins Éirígí extends a heartfelt thanks to all those who have assisted the struggle for Irish freedom over the course of the past year. A particular thanks is due to those who have helped Éirígí expand and develop both its organisation and broader political project over the course of the last twelve months.
2007 marked another year of the British occupation of the Six Counties and another year of worker exploitation on both sides of Britain’s border in Ireland. Internationally the injustice of political, military and economic imperialism has become ever-more pronounced.
Against this background the green shoots of a new generation of Irish resistance are starting to emerge. The much needed realignment of progressive forces on the island of Ireland is now well underway. It is this ongoing realignment which is facilitating Éirígí to expand its activist and support base at an ever-increasing rate.
In May 2007 the Éirígí membership used the occasion of their first Ard Fhéis to advance the organisation from a campaigns group into a formal political party. This step was a clear indication of the intent of the membership to build Éirígí into a credible vehicle for the promotion and achievement of a Democratic Socialist Republic in Ireland.
This evolution to a political party has complimented éirígí’s existing commitment to political campaigning as an effective tool for resistance to the status quo and for the promotion of democratic and just Ireland. This reality is borne out by the near constant schedule of Éirígí’s campaigning activity throughout 2007. Éirígí also remains committed to working with other progressive individuals and organisations in the struggle to create a more humane and sustainable socio-economic system in Ireland.
In the coming year Éirígí will continue with this work by robustly opposing the giveaway to private corporations of Ireland’s natural resources; by building popular resistance to British rule in Ireland and by challenging Ireland’s ruling elite’s support for imperialist wars.
The upcoming Twenty Six County referendum on the Lisbon Treaty represents a unique opportunity for the people of one section of Ireland to speak for all the people of Europe. On December 13th Éirígí launched it’s ‘No To Lisbon’ campaign, which is urging people to support Irish independence, democracy and neutrality.
In recent days Bertie Ahern has stated that he believes a state visit to the Twenty Six Counties by the British head of state is now inevitable. Éirígí views such a visit to be utterly unacceptable while Britain continues to occupy any part of the Irish national territory. For this reason Éirígí will actively oppose the extension of an invite to the English queen and the actual state visit itself, should such a visit occur.
2008 represents a year of opportunity for Ireland and the broader world, as those who stand for justice over exploitation and co-operation over competition continue to build popular opposition to imperialism and global capitalism. Éirígí is committed to playing its role in the Irish context and urges all of those who oppose Britain’s occupation and the current corrupt, island-wide, socio-economic system to become politically active and join the struggle to build an independent, socialist Ireland.